Liquid cooling apparatus



g-5 1952 H; w. TAYLOR LIQUID coouuc APPARATUS Filed Aug. 24, 1948 IN VEN T OR. hymn MTAYLOR ATTORNX Patented Au g. 5, 1952 "UNITED" STATES PATENT o Fica-f I V v v M LIQUID; OZfi ZZ ArPARA'rUS I i I Halsey W. Taylor, Warren, Ohio, assignor to I y Halsey.W.Taylor 00., Warren, Ohio, at corporation of Ohio Application August 24, 1948, Serial No. 45,803

;; 'My invention-relates to liquid cooling apparatus, and i more particularly to apparatus of the fountain type water cooler, and the principal object of my invention is to provide new and'improved apparatus of the character disclosed; f I j I 7 Generally, in liquid cooling. apparatus, and particularlyin fountain type water coolers, a containerQis provided forthe storage of cooled liquid, so. that an ample supply of cooled liquid is on hand to meet the maximum demands.

It has been found, in (storage containers of the, kind mentioned, that the-temperature of the body -'of liquid is not uniform throughout. For example, in water cooler tanks, it has been found that the water is colder adjacent to the refrigerant coils. This is caused largely by the proximity of the refrigerant coil to the outer portion of the water, and also by .the fact that the thermal conductivity of water is materially less than that of metal, and accordingly there is a temperature lag between inner and outer portions of the 'body of water. q I

. In some cases, increased refrigeration was tried to compensate for such temperature lag, but this only resulted in a sweating of the refrigerant coil caused by undue condensation of rVEtPOl, and sometimes resulted in an undesirable freezing of the liquid, especially when the-demand was low. 1

My invention overcomes the prior art difliculties by providing means wherebythe body of liquidis caused to have substantially uniform temperature. Myinvention; further provides means for effectively distributing incoming liquid toward that surface ,of the container which is in contact with the refrigerant'coila Other advantages will appear from a reading of the follow description, 1

In the drawing accompanying this specification and forming apart of this application, there is shown, for purposes of illustration, an embodiment which my invention may assume, and in this drawing:

.Figure l is an elevational view, with parts broken away and parts in section, showing awater cooler incorporating the embodiment of my invention, 3

Figure 2 is an enlarged longitudinal... sectional view of the liquid COIlt2tllleI',, I g Figure 3 is a transverse sectional viewjcorrespending generally to the line 3--3;of Figure 2, and

Figure 4 is a plan view of a detail.

Referring to the drawing, the embodiment of Claims. (Cl. 62 141) theinvention herein disclosed is shown-as .ap-

plied to a drinking fountain ID of any standard construction, although it will be appreciated that my invention has application other than that particularly disclosed.

' The drinking fountain I0, as herein shown, has a water bubbler ll connected to a control valve l2. A suitable drain I3 is provided for overflow water. The valve I2 is connected to the water cooling apparatus M which comprises my invention; It will be appreciated that other connections for control of certain functions of the apparatus, such "astemp'erature and tlielike, are provided, but since such other connections form no part of my invention, their disclosureis believed unnecessary.

' The water cooling apparatus I4 comprises a container for the water, which in the embodiment illustrated includes a clo'sedtank formed by a cylindrical shell IS, a head I6, and abottom -l'l. The head and bottom may bewelded or otherwise suitably secured to the shell-l5:

A refrigerant coil I8 is disposed about theexterior of the shell1l5, ingood. thermal transfer relationship therewith. One way to establish such relationship is to wind thecoil -so' that its convolutions have contactwith the shell, and then dip the assembly into a flux ;and-then into a hot tin bath. As best seen in Figure'Z, the coil is so wound that its convolutions are slightly spaced apart, so that in case of rupture at any place along the coilythe refrigerant may escape without injuriously affecting the shell.

As best shown in Figure lyopposrte ended the coil l8 are connected to a refrigerating unit H which may be of'any well known make and therefore need' not be specifically shown and described. Refrigerant from the unit 19 enters the lower 'end of the coil through conduit 20, and returns to the unit from the upper end of the coilthrough conduit 2|. e

My invention provides means for effecting good thermal transfer relationship between container l5 and the body of water thereinfa'nd comprises means which engage the container and extend into the body of water. As herein shown, such means comprise a plurality of thermal transfer elements 22 staggered axially and spaced-apart longitudinally with respect to the container.

Referring particularly to Figures. 2 and3, each element 22 is generally of star-shape, having the points of each element in contact with the container l5 and the body of each element ,extendshell to its proper position;

overlapped, as shown at 25, and suitably connected, as for example by means of spot welding.

As seen in Figure 4, the flat strip is originally shaped so that the connecting points '24 are'disposed in a circle greater than the inner diameter of the container [5, such diameter being represented by the dot-dash line in Figure 4, To assemble the elements 22 with the shell I5, it is merely necessary to-slightly spring each element'radially inwardly, "and enter it within the The inherent and it also will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the embodiment of the invention herein described may be variously changed and modified, without departing from the spirit of the invention, and that the invention is capable of uses and has advantages not herein specifically described; hence it will be appreciated that the herein disclosedembodiment is illustrative only, and that my invention is-not limited thereto.

I claim:

1. Liquid cooling apparatus, comprising: a

closed tank for the liquid to be cooled, having a liquid inlet at its upper portion and a liquid outlet at its lower portion; bafile means directing inlet 'fluid, comprising an imperforate member spaced from the upper end of said tank and from said liquid inlet, the peripheral surface of springiness of the material will hold each element in engagement with the inner surfacejof the shell l5. Preferably, it is'desirable' to further secure each element-to the shell,"and"this maybe done by tin coating each element'in place. 'Such tincoatingmay be effected at the same time the-refrigerantcoil I3 is secured'to the'shelll5. l

The means for effecting distribution of incoming water, in the embodiment herein disclosed, comprises bafiiemeans: which may take the form of an imperforate. disc, 21, of suitable non-corrosive metal, the peripheral margin of the disc 21 being of less diameter than the inner'surface of the shell 15, so as to' form an 'annular space 28. v

The conduit 29, leading from a suitable source of water supply, extends through an aperture in the head [5 and has its inner endconnected to an intermediate portion of theadisc Zlfsuch as by means of brazing or the like.- Preferably, the conduit 29"i's also brazed to the head 16 to form a fluid-tight joint. Inwardly of the head 1 6, and spaced fromthe disc 21, the conduit 29 is formed with a series ofopenings 30. Incoming water flows through the openings 30 andsp'ills over onto the disc 21, from where it flows through the annular opening 28 and downwardly of theina terior walls'of the water container; "I;

It will"'thus be appreciated that" incoming water is directed-toward that part of the container which is in contact with the refrigerant 'coil l8, so as'to effectively cool such incoming water. Further, the elements 22'will establish good thermal transfer relationship between the shell l5- and the inner portionof the body of water. The elements 22, asbest seen in Figures 3, are so arranged that thelegs ofadjoining elements are staggered, thus causing convection currents of water to be broken up and further mixing of the water. p

' r The conduit3l which leads to the valve l2, is also preferably brazing 7 or otherwise suitably connected to the bottom I! in fiuid-tight relar tionship. As a matter of assembly, the bottom I! may firstv be Welded to the shell [5, and then refrigerant coil l8 may be secured to the shell.

Finally, the head IS, with baflie 21 and conduit 29 attached, may be welded to the shell to form the completed closed water tank From the foregoing, it will be apparent to thoseskilled in the art that I have accomplished at least the principal object of my invention,

said baflle means stopping short of contact with the inner wall surface of said tank, whereby inlet fluid enters said tank, engages an intermediateportion of said baffle means, and is directed toward and downwardly of saidinner wall surface; a refrigerant coil exteriorly of said tank, in thermal transfer relationship therewith; and

at least two axiallystaggered elements spaced apart longitudinally of said tank below said bafiie means, each of a strip of sheet metal formed to generally star-shape, the outer points of each element contacting said inner wall surface, and the remainder of each element extending radially inwardly of said tank. 7

2. Liquid cooling apparatus, comprising: a container for the liquid to be cooled, said container having a top wall; a liquid inlet conduit extending through an aperture in said top wall; baffle means closing the inner end of said inlet conduit and spaced from the inner surface of said top wall, said inlet conduit having radially spaced apertures in its walls to provide for flow of inlet liquid laterally thereof and to the space between said bafile means and said top wall, and said bafiie means being arranged with respect to said container to deflect flow of inlet liquid in a direction toward the inner wall surface of said container.

3. Liquid cooling apparatus, comprising: a container for the liquid to be cooled, said container having a top wall; a liquid inlet conduit extending through an aperture in said top wall; baffle means closing the inner end of said inlet conduit and spaced from the inner surface of said'top wall, and said inletconduit having radially spaced apertures in its wall to provide for flow of inlet liquid laterally thereof and to the space between said baflle means and said top wallyand said baffle means being arranged with respect to said container to deflect flow of inlet liquid in a direction toward the inner wallsurface of said container; and means within said container establishing thermal transfer relationship between said container and the liquid Within said container.

4. Liquid cooling apparatus, comprising: a container for the liquid to be cooled; a top for said container; a liquid inlet conduit extending through an aperture in said top and secured to said top; bafile means secured to the inner end of saidinlet conduit. and closing such end, said bafile means being spaced from the inner surface of said top, and said inlet conduit having radially spaced apertures in its wall to provide for flow of inlet liquid laterally thereof and to the space between said baifie means and said top, said top, said baffle means and said inlet conduit being assembleable as a unit with said container, and

said baflie means being arranged with respect to said container to deflect flow of inlet liquid in a direction toward the inner wall surface of said container.

5. Liquid cooling apparatus, comprising: a container for the liquid to be cooled; a top for said container; a liquid inlet conduit extending through an aperture in said top; baffle means closing the inner end of said inlet conduit and spaced from the inner surface of said top, and said inlet conduit having aperture means in its wall to provide for flow of inlet liquid laterally thereof and to the space between said baffle means and said top, and said baffle means being arranged with respect to said container to deflect flow of inlet'liquid in a direction toward the inner wall surface of said container; a plurality of thermal transfer elements disposed below said baffle means in relative staggered relation, each establishing thermal transfer relationship between said container and the liquid within said container, said elements combining to break up straight-line fluid fiow from top to bottom of said container; and cooling means in thermal transfer relationship with said container.

6. In liquid cooling apparatus, heat exchanging means comprising a container through which fluid is adapted to pass, and thermal transfer means providing thermal conductivity between said fluid and said container, said thermal transfer means comprising a sheet-metal member formed separately of said container and providing a star-shaped fin element assembled to position within said container wherein it is disposed edge-wise to the flow of fluid in said container and wherein the points of the star are in conducting engagement with the inner walls of said container and the remainder of the star extend radially inwardly of said container.

7. In liquid cooling apparatus, heat exchanging means comprising a container through which fluid is adapted to pass, and a plurality of thermal transfer means providing thermal conductivity between said fluid and said container, each of said thermal transfer means comprising a strip of thermal conducting material formed to star-shape, the points of each star being in conducting engagement with the inner walls of said container and the remainder of each star extending radially inwardly of said container, said thermal conducting means being disposed edgewise with respect to each other and axially of said container with the points of one star out of alignment with the points of an adjacent star.

8. Liquid cooling apparatus comprising a container for the liquid to be cooled, an imperforate baffle extending crosswise of said container and disposed at an upper portion thereof, the peripheral edge of said bafile being spaced from the inner wall surface of said container, and a fluid inlet conduit entering said container and directed toward an intermediate portion of said 6 baffle, the terminal end of said conduit bein closed and said conduit having radially spaced apertures in its wall and adjacent to said closed end to provide for flow of inlet liquid laterally of said conduit and radially along said baflie to the space between the peripheral edge of said bafiie and the inner wall surface of said container.

9. Heat exchanging means for liquid cooling apparatus comprising a container through which fluid is adapted to pass, and thermal transfer means providing thermal conductivity between said fluid and said fluid and said container, said thermal transfer means being made of strip sheet-metal which has been formed to provide a star-shaped fin element assembleable to position within said container, said element prior to assembly with said container being formed so that said points lie in a circumferential outline greater than the outline of the inner wall surface of said container so thatsaid element is compressed during assembly with said container and so that following assembly said points are pressed against the inner wall surface of said container.

10. Heat exchanging means for liquid cooling apparatus comprising a container through which fluid is adapted to pass, an imperforate bafile extending cross-wise of said container and disposed at an upper portion thereof, the peripheral edge of said baflle being spaced from the inner wall surface of said container, an inlet conduit entering said container and directed toward an intermediate portion of said bafiie, the terminal end of said conduit being closed and said conduit having radially spaced apertures in its wall and adjacent to said closed end to provide for flow of inlet liquid laterally of said conduit and radially along said bafile to the space between the peripheral edge of said bafiie and the inner wall surface of said container, and thermal transfer means within said container and below said bafile comprising a plurality of generally radially extending fins which are joined to provide a starshaped element, the points of the star being in conducting engagement with the inner wall of said container and the remainder of the star extending inwardly of said container.

HALSEY W. TAYLOR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the flle of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,934,371 Muflly Nov. 7, 1933 1,972,844 Killen Sept. 4, 1934 2,183,509 Smith Dec. 12, 1939 2,237,246 Askin Apr. 1, 1941 2,370,390 Berryman Feb. 27, 1945 2,532,026 Kellershon Nov. 28, 1950 

